Automatic locking device



Dec. 8, 1931. s. TfsMrrH AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I9. 4 INVENTOR Dec. 8, 1931. 'SWTH 1,835,349 I AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE Filed Augi- 4, 1930 4 sheets-Sheet '4 p f 2\ k? 2A4 2 v 3 \fi I g i 27L 1 2 --z3a ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT v OFFICE.

SKABDON SMITH, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE Application filed August 4, 1930. Serial No. 473,1b8.

' The object of my invention is to produce a locking unit combined with operating mechanism so as to automatically lock in any position if released under aresisting load.

Another object is to produce a locking unit that may be used as an operating means for rotating ashaft in one direction, yet will automatically lock said shaft if the direction of rotation is reversed by any resisting force applied thereto through said shaft.

A further object is to provide a mechanical unit for exerting great pressure in one direc tion, and that will automatically lock in any position when under load when the handle pressure is released.

A still further object is to producea combination operating and locking unit thatmay be readily applied to lifting j acks,vises, cable tighteners etc., where a resisting load is, to

be displaced by mechanical'means and locked invarlous positlons. Y

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts are marked by similar numerals or lettersonall drawings.

Fig. 1 is a 'front view of the deviceas applied to a double vise showing the general arrangement of the exterior operating members.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the assembled device showing the relative position of the operating members.

' Fig. 3 is an end view taken on the line 33 of the Fig. 1 showing the relative position of the clamps.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the inner clamp formed on the end of the ram bar.

Fig. 5 is also a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1 showing the casing end bearing for slidably mounting the ram casing chamber and the bar locking mechanism mounted therein.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view crosswise of the casing taken on line 8.8 of Fig. 2 showing the general arrangement of the operating mechanism. 1

V Fig. 9 is a sectional viewshowing a modified form'of lock bar mounting, utilizing bearing surfaces instead of points for holding the bar in position.

Fig. 10 is also a sectional View showing a modification of the lock bar ends designed for resisting heavy loads.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10 showing the general arrangement of the lock cam end blocks and means for retaining them therein.

Fig. 12 is also a sectional view showing a further modification of the end blocks as mounted in the lock bar.

Fig. 13 is a further modification of the lock bar and driving slot showing a double bar pivot as arranged in one slot wall only.

. Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing a modi- {)ied form of bearing for controlling the loek Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 14 showing the bearing pin as mounted therein.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view also showing a further modification of double bearing p1ns for controlling the movements of the lock bar.

Fig; 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17 17 of Fig. 16 showing the double bearings as mounted in the shaft head.

Fig. 18 illustrates my device applied as a lifting jack, supporting a load.

Fig. 19 illustrates the application of belt means as applied to the movable ram bar in plzrice of geared means as shown in the Figs. 6 an 8.

Fig. 20, illustrates my device geared mechanism.

Fig. 21 illustrates the device applied to a cable tightener.

In general my device comprises a stub drive shaft rotatably mounted within a suitable frame support, and so connected with a combination' driving and locking unit as to cause rotation of the shaft in one direction for exerting a force against any connectedmechanism, but which will automatically lock said drive shaft if the resisting force of the connected mechanism tends to cause a backward rotation of the shaft. The driven mechanism may be connected to the stub drive shaft by either rack, gear or belt means, and the resisting force applied in either direction there-' While I have illustrated my device as applied to a vise, using rack and gear means for connecting the stub drive shaft thereto, it is to be understood this is only illustrative of one application of my locking unit, and that this locking unit may be applied to any other type of mechanism equally as well.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The casing 1 is preferably made of cast metal, rectangular in form, and provided with detachable end plates 2 and 3, fixedly attached thereto by the screws 4. Therectangular casing -1- is divided into two chamber sections aand bby a vertical partition wall -5-. Through the center of the casing 1 are formed shaft bearings 6, 7- and 8, all concentric with an axis at right angles to the casing walls and passing therethrough. Within the bearings .6 and 7 is rotatably mounted a stub drive shaft 9, preferably formed with an enlarged bearing head collar 10- on the inner end thereof, and with a pinion gear'section 11 near the center of the shaft, said head collar -10. being projected within the casing chamber -a and v the gear section .11- positioned centrally within the chamber b, the shaft --9- being free to rotate within the bearings. Di-.

rectly beneath the gear section 11- and. at right angles thereto is mounted a ram bar 12, formed with rack teeth 13- along the top side and positioned to mesh with the teeth of gear 11-. The ram bar 12 is slidably mounted along the bottom of the caslng 1 and is projected outside the easing walls at both ends through the casing end wall openings 14-, and is capable of sliding therein in either direction. The casing block 1 is formed with extended base arms 15, positioned parallel to the ram bar 12-, and are bent at right angles at the outer ends forming a clamp member 16- positioned opposite the ram bar ends. The vise herein shown is illustrated as a double vise, as the ram bar is operative in either direction.

The chamber ais formed with true cylindrical walls positioned concentric with the axis of the drive shaft -9, said cylindrical walls preferably being ground and hardened. The circumference of the head collar. -10 is preferably fitted to the cylindrical wall chamber a-, forming a bearin therein, said head collar 10- also being ormed with a deep drive groove 17-- positioned diametrically across the outer face thereof. The drive groove-17 is formed with V-shaped side walls -0 positioned symetrically about the collar diameter, with the wall apex '-d positioned at one side of the cylinder chamber axis. Within the chamber a,, adjacent to the collar 10- is mounted a driving and locking unit 18, formed of an elliptical shaped flange e, having a straight rectangular. lock bar 'f positioned diametrically across the collar face along the lon collar axis, said lock bar -fbeing of su cient width to practically fill the drive groove 17 between the apex points -d, yet capable of'slight side move ment at the groove ends as the-lock bar is tilted over the apex points, for displacing the lock bar diameter off the cylinder casing center, The ends of the lock bar fare preferably to a circumference having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the cylinder chamber a-, also preferably hardened and ground to form a perfect contact wall surface, the difi'erence between the angles to the lock bar fallows the side.

movement of the entire unit within the chamber w, while the flange collar eis fitted between the collar --10 and end plate -'-3, but free to rotate'therein, provides a stable mounting for the unit 18--. A tuming hub -19is mounted on the opposite side of the collar e-, positioned concentric with the drive shaft axis, said turning hub being projected through an enlarged wall opening '20, and extended outside the casing wall and carries a turning crank 21- fixedly mounted thereon by the shaft key 22-, providing means for applying turning force to the driving andlocking unit.

Spring recesses 23- and 24. are formed in the collar 10 and lock bar -.-f-, and carrycompression coil springs 25- mounted therein, said springs being placed in the proper recesses for taking all slack motion of the lock bar f within the drive groove -17, and retaining said lock bar in a locking position at all times. The springs 25 asshown in the recesses 23- are in position for causing the locking bar to seize the walls of the chamber a when rotated in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Figs 7, 9, 13, 14 and 16, if said rotation is caused by a resisting force applied through the stub drive shaft -.9, but the coil springs 25- maybe transferred to the opposite spring recesses 230" if locking of the unit is desired in the opposite direction for resisting an opposite force as may be applied thereto through the drive shaft. (The double set of recesses 23- and 23a are shown to complete the design of the device as actually made and used, and to more clearly illustrate the utility of the device and its adaption for operation in either direction, but the invention resides in the device with the springs -25 in either set of recesses, the invention is the same in either case. (The application of the locking unit to a vise jaw, or to vise jaws is purely illustrative of the utility of the invention or look ifig unit, and which may be adapted to the different types of devices as illustrated in Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21, equally as well.)

If desired,'the rack 13- and pinion 11 may be replaced with a belt member 31- as shown in the Fig. 19, the belt 31 being wound around the body of shaft 9 and having its ends fixedly attached to the ram bar ends. The movement and operation is practically the same as heretofore shown for the connecting gears. I

In operating my device, when a resisting load is rotatably connected to the drive shaft 9, causing a tortional moment therein, as by placing a block 30- between the ram bar end 12.-- and clamp member 16 and tightly clamping same bv amolving pressure to the crank 21 in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, or by a supported load 32 as shown in Fig. 18, or bv the gea'r or cable means as illustrated in Figs. 2O and 21 the turning crank +21- provides means for applying operative power to the stub shaft 9 and its connected mechanism, for rotating same in the direction as may be required for the particular type of mechanism used therewith, and at the same time the crank pressure causes a side displacement of the lock bar f to one side of the cylindrical chamber center, due to its eccentric contact with the wall of the drive slot 17+, said lock bar will drag along the cylinder wall in the turning as may be caused by the crank 21, but

(ill

will instantly seize the chamber walls and look if the crank pressure is released and the direction of rotation reversed bv back pressure from the resisting load applied through the drive shaft 9, automatically locking said driveshaft and its connected mechanism in that position. andwhich will remain looked until the lock bar 'f is released from the chamber walls by again applying pressure on the crank 21- in the opposite direction.

Figs. 10 and 12 show a modified type of lock bar having adjustable friction blocks 26' pivotally mounted at the ends, and is especially adapted .for resisting heavy stresses or loadings as may be applied through the drive shaft -9.

Fig. 13 shows a modified driving groove 17-, where the side wall apexes d are both on the same side of the driving groove as formed across the head collar -10, the springs 25 being placed in either the recess 23 or 23a-, depending upon the direction of rotation desired for locking. The operation is the same as heretofore described.

Figs. 14, '15, 16, and 17 show alternate forms of the lock bar contact, where float pins 27 are fixedly mounted in the bottom of the drive shaft groove 17" and engage enlarged recesses28 formed through the lock bar body -f" at corresponding positions, instead of the side wall contact at the apex (l as previously shown.

The device, by removing the base arms 15- and clamp members 16, may be applied as a lifting jack, or hoist as illustrated in Fig, 18, the crank -21 providing the lifting power the same as heretofore described, and the locking unit 18-retaining theload 32 in its elevated position when the crank pressure is released, or may be lower when desired by simply turning the crank 21 in the opposite direction.

Fig. 20 shows my device as applied as a driving unit for connected gear mechanism, allowing free rotation thereof in one direction. but instantly locking if, the direction of rotation is reversed by the resisting force reacting through the drive shaft, and is especia lly adapted for elevated conveyor machinery for preventing any backward rotation thereof when the conveyor is loaded and the driving power be disconnected. I

Fig. 21 illustrates a further application of my locking device, using rope 34 or belt means for applying a resisting force to' the drive shaft 9, and is especially adapted for winding up stressed flexible cables or for splicing broken cable wires etc.

In all cases, if desired, the actual operating power for driving the connected mechanism through the drive shaft 9, may be applied through the pulley -29- fixedly mounted on the outer end of the drive shaft 9. instead of the operating crank -2l, provided the compression springs 25 be sufficientlystressed to properly set the lock bar -f in its locking position for seizing the cylinder walls. However the crank 21- must be used for unlocking the shaft:

Having fullydescribed my locking device, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A locking device adapted for automatically locking connected mechanism for preventing a backward movement thereof, comprising a rigid support frame formed with a cylindrical chamber therein, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in one end of said cylindrical chamber, positioned concentric with the chamber axis and projecting outside of the chamber end, a lock bar movably mounted diametrically across said cylindrical chamber and connected to said drive shaft end, said lock bar being capable of seizing the cylindrical chamber walls if displaced to one side of the chamber center, means connected with said lock bar for causing its sidewise displacement Within the cylindrical chamber, and means mounted therein for returning the said lock bar to its central position within the said chamber.

2. A locking device adapted for automatically locking connected mechanism for preventing a backward movement thereof, comprising a rigid support frame formed with a cylindrical chamber therein, a drive shaft r0- tatably mounted in one end of said chamber and projected outside the chamber end, said drive shaft being positioned concentric with the cylindrical chamber axis, a lock bar movably mounted diametrically across the cylindrical chamber and connected with the inner end of the drive shaft for rotating therewith, said lock bar being capable of seizing the cylindrical chamber walls and lockin" if displaced from its central position within said chamber, lever means mounted on said lock bar for causing a sidewise displacement thereof within the cylindrical chamber, s ring y a turning moment to the connecte means mounted therein for holding sai lock bar in a displaced locking position within said chamber, and means connected to said ilricvie shaft for engaging a resisting movable 3. A locking device adapted for-automatically locking connected mechanism for preventing a backward movement thereof, comprising a rigid sup-port frame formed with a cylindrical chamber therein, a short drive shaft rotatably ,mounted within one end of said chamber and projected outside of the chamber end wall, said drive shaft being formed witha slotted recess diametrically across the inner end thereof, the shaft being positioned concentric with the cylindrical chamber axis, a lock bar movably mounted diametrically across the cylindrical chamber and engaging with the slotted end of said drive shaft, said lock bar'being capable of seizing the chamber walls if displaced to one side of the chamber center, crank means mounted on said lock bar and rojected outside of the chamber end, capab e of a plying crank shaft and at the same time displace said lock bar from its central position within the chamber, spring means mounted within the said drive shaft slot and engagingthe lock bar for retaining samein' its displaced locking position within said chamber, and means mounted on said drive shaft for connecting the same to ,resisting mechanism movable thereby.

' 4. A locking device adapted fdrautomati- I cally locking connected mechanism for pre-' venting a backward movement thereof, comprising a rigid support frame formed with a cylindrical chamber therein, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in one end of said chamber and projected outside of the chamber-end, said drive shaft being positioned concentric with the cylindrical chamber axis, said shaft being formed with a slotted recess diametrically across the inner end thereof, a lock bar movably mounted within said cylindrical chamber placed diametrically thereacross and engaging the said slotted recess in the drive shaft end, said lock bar being capable of seizing the cylindrical chamber walls if displaced from its central position within the chamber, meansformed, in said drive slot for engaging said lock bar at one side of the cylindrical chamber center axis, crank means mounted on the lock bar and projected outside the chamber end, said crank being capable of imparting a turning moment to the connected drive shaft and also displace said lock bar from its central position within the cylindrical chamber, spring means mounted within the drive shaft slotted recess for engaging the lock bar and retainin same in its displaced locking position within the chamber when the attached crank is released, and means formed on the drive shaft for connecting same rotatably with a resisting load.

In witness whereof I sign this specification.

SKARDON T. SMITH. 

